When to plant in River Falls, WI
USDA Zone 4bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in River Falls, Wisconsin — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 4b, River Falls winters are severe; choose cold-hardy perennials and time annuals carefully around the frost dates above.
Frost probability
RIVER FALLS · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are River Falls’s own odds, recorded at RIVER FALLS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 6 | May 23 | May 6 | Sep 8 | Sep 24 | Oct 6 |
| 32°F | May 26 | May 11 | Apr 26 | Sep 19 | Oct 1 | Oct 15 |
| 28°F | May 16 | May 1 | Apr 16 | Sep 27 | Oct 11 | Oct 26 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in River Falls, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 22 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
River Falls planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in River Falls, WI?
River Falls's average last spring frost falls near May 11 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in River Falls, WI?
Expect River Falls's first fall frost near October 1 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is River Falls in?
River Falls is in USDA hardiness zone 4b. In zone 4b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in River Falls?
River Falls has about 143 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 11) and first fall frost (October 1).
When should I plant tomatoes in River Falls?
For River Falls, sow tomatoes indoors about March 16–March 30 and move the seedlings out around May 18, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in River Falls
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to River Falls’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Hudson · 14 km
- Hastings · 23 km
- Cottage Grove · 23 km
- Woodbury · 24 km
- Lake Elmo · 26 km
- Stillwater · 27 km
- New Richmond · 30 km
- Oakdale · 30 km
Frost dates recorded at RIVER FALLS, 1 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in River Falls, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 4b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00477226. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/river-falls.